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Surface tension driven flow for open microchannels with different turning angles

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Abstract

Present study examines the flow characteristics of open microchannels with sharp turns by experimental and numerical methods. For the open channel system in microscale, the flow is mainly driven by surface tension at atmospheric pressure. The open channels are of various aspect ratios of depth-to-width, ranging from 0.75 to 3, and of turning angles from 45° to 135°. It is found that the turning angle and the aspect ratio of depth-to-width play major roles in the velocity of liquid front advancing, the meniscus of liquid–gas interface shape, and head loss of flow due to turning. Besides, the radius of curvature of the liquid front is reduced as the liquid front travels downstream and over the turning elbow. The loss coefficient remains the same for turning angles less than 75°, whereas it is increased further and is even more pronounced for turning angles larger than 105°. Numerical predications based on conservation laws agree with the experimental observations, and the flow characteristics are well described for open channel in microscale, as the aspect ratio is greater than or near to 1.5.

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Acknowledgments

The authors highly appreciate the supports from Department of Industry of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and National Science Council, Taiwan under contract NSC95-2323-B-007-004.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy and Environment Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Hsinchu , 310, Taiwan

    Yu-Feng Chen

  2. Institute of MEMS, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu , 300, Taiwan

    Fang-Gang Tseng, Shang-Yu ChangChien, Ming-Hung Chen & Ching-Chang Chieng

  3. Department of Engineering and System Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu , 300, Taiwan

    Fang-Gang Tseng, Ru-Ji Yu & Ching-Chang Chieng

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  1. Yu-Feng Chen
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  2. Fang-Gang Tseng
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  3. Shang-Yu ChangChien
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  4. Ming-Hung Chen
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  5. Ru-Ji Yu
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  6. Ching-Chang Chieng
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Correspondence to Ching-Chang Chieng.

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Chen, YF., Tseng, FG., ChangChien, SY. et al. Surface tension driven flow for open microchannels with different turning angles. Microfluid Nanofluid 5, 193–203 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-007-0237-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-007-0237-5

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